Package Liquor Store
Grand Rapids, MI
Photo courtesy Rick McOmber

Package Liquor Store is one of those signs that catches your eye because of its simplicity. This old marquee was photographed in Grand Rapids and is a great reminder of the days when a neighborhood liquor store didn't need much more than a little neon to bring people in. 04-08

In Michigan, "Package Liquor" was a common term for stores selling sealed bottles to take home, so it's not clear if that was the actual business name or simply what the sign advertised. Either way, it's a classic piece of roadside Americana.

UPDATE: I'm not sure if the business or the sign is still around. If it has disappeared, at least this photo preserves another vintage neon sign from Michigan's roadside past. 07-26

Beer Port Liquor (Gone)
Hammond, IN
Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi

Beer Port Liquor had the kind of sign that was hard to ignore. Its tall, brightly lit marquee towered over the street, doing exactly what it was built to do—catch the attention of passing motorists and invite them to stop in. 10-08

The Hammond business was known as both Beer Port Liquor and Beer Port Tavern over the years and remained a neighborhood landmark for decades. Even after the original owner passed away in 2006, the classic sign continued to stand for a few more years before finally disappearing.

UPDATE: The Beer Port is gone, and both the building and its vintage roadside sign have been removed. Fortunately, photos like this keep another piece of roadside history alive. 07-26

Hunters Inn
Gary, IN
Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi

Hunters Inn has a little something extra besides its eye-catching roadside sign. Take a look at the side of the building and you'll spot faded ghost lettering advertising "BEER WINE LIQUOR," a reminder of the business's long history in Gary. 10-08

The neighborhood tavern and liquor store has been serving customers for decades from this historic building on Broadway. While the restored sign out front grabs your attention, the weathered paint on the brick wall is just as interesting for anyone who appreciates old roadside details.

UPDATE: Hunters Inn is still open, and both the restored roadside sign and the vintage ghost lettering remain. It's nice to see a place where the old and the new still share the same corner. 07-26

Variety Liquor Mart (Gone)
Pontiac, IL
Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi

Variety Liquor Mart featured this old roadside sign along Howard Street in Pontiac. With its simple lettering and weathered look, the marquee had the feel of a longtime neighborhood business that had been standing there for years. 10-08

The store was also known as Variety Liquors and once operated as both a liquor store and cheese shop. It was connected over the years with nearby lounge businesses, making this little corner more than just a quick stop for a bottle.

By the time this photo was taken, the sign already looked like it had seen plenty of seasons. That worn appearance was part of its charm and gave the storefront the kind of character that newer signs rarely have.

UPDATE: Variety Liquor Mart has closed, and the building is now used by a printing and office supply business. The old roadside sign has also been removed. 07-26

Package Liquor Store
North Judson, IN
Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi

This old neon sign is for the Package Liquor Store in North Judson, IN. Even with just part of the "liquor" part of the lettering lit, the sign beats other modern signs in its ability to catch the eye of passersby. Many thanks to Kevin Heggi for info. 11-08

Mounted to the side of a brick storefront, the vertical neon sign is a great survivor from the days when downtown businesses relied on bright signs instead of oversized billboards. The stacked "PACKAGE LIQUOR STORE" lettering gives it a classic look that's becoming harder to find.

Today, the business operates as the North Judson Bottle Shoppe, but the old sign remains as a reminder of an earlier era. It's nice to see a vintage piece like this still hanging where it belongs.

UPDATE: The North Judson Bottle Shoppe is still open, and the old Package Liquor Store neon sign continues to overlook downtown North Judson. 07-26

Partee Shop (Rem.)
Van Wert, OH
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Partee Shop featured one of those roadside signs that was almost impossible to miss. The giant Dr Pepper bottle towering above the marquee was the real attraction, giving the storefront a fun, unmistakably vintage look. 02-09

The oversized bottle was a classic example of the colorful plastic advertising signs that once lined America's roads. Even if you weren't looking for a liquor store, the sign did exactly what it was designed to do—it made you look.

The Partee Shop is still serving customers in Van Wert today, although the business has expanded into a newer building next to its original location. Unfortunately, the old roadside sign didn't make the move.

UPDATE: The Partee Shop remains open, but the vintage Dr Pepper bottle sign has been removed. Thankfully, photos like this preserve another memorable piece of roadside advertising. 07-26